Labour's newly elected West Midlands mayor calls for arms embargo on Israel trends now

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Labour's new West Midlands mayor has called for an arms embargo on Israel as debate raged over the party's attempts to win back lost Muslim voters.

Richard Parker said he was already in discussions over the move - which is not current party policy - but critics said his role has nothing to do with foreign affairs.

The businessman narrowly beat Tory incumbent Andy Street in last Thursday's election, having lost almost 70,000 votes to a pro-Palestine candidate.

On Monday, his first proper day in the job, he faced a backlash for posting on social media about the planned offensive in Rafah before he set out his ideas for Birmingham.

Then yesterday he was asked about his fears of what Israel might do.

'I am incredibly concerned, and I made a very clear statement that they mustn't go into Rafah,' he told LBC radio.